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Accessibility |
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In the context of a Web site, accessibility refers to the degree
that a website can be accessed by people with disabilities. |
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Apache |
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The most
popular Web server software. |
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Bandwidth |
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Bandwidth
is a measure of how fast data that can be transferred between
two computers. Popular units include Kilobits per second (Kbps)
or MegaBits per second (Mbps). |
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Cache |
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Copies of previously accessed Web pages and associated files
are stored (in a cache) on a user's computer or on computers
operated by an ISP. On subsequent visits to these website pages
the files are retrieved from the cache rather than downloaded
from the Web server again. This reduces the time taken to deliver
the web page to the user. |
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Cascading
Style Sheets (CSS) |
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A technology used to control the presentation (and often the
layout) of a web page. CSS controls colours, font faces, text
sizes, etc. |
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Client
Side |
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A description
of technologies (for example: JavaScript and Macromedia Flash)
that are downloaded and run by the user's web browser rather
than on the web server. Client side technologies often require
a web browser to have a plugin installed. |
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Code-editor |
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A type
of authoring tool that allows you to directly edit the HTML
source of a Web page.
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Common
Gateway Interface (CGI) |
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A set of rules allowing a user's web browser to communicate
with a program on the web server. For example, after submitting
a web form the data from that form is passed through the CGI
to a program on the server. |
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Content
Management System (CMS) |
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In the context of a website a CMS is a collection of tools designed
to allow the creation, modification organisation and removal
of information from a website. It is common for a CMS to require
users to have no knowledge of HTML in order to create new website
pages. |
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Cookies |
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A small
text file downloaded to a user's computer that can be used to
track user behaviour on a website or store user information
and particular preferences allowing customisation of a user's
subsequent visits to that website.
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Domain
name |
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A unique
name that identifies one or more IP addresses. Domain names
are used as addresses for web pages and for sending email.
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Download |
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The transfer of files from a remote machine (for example, a
web server operated by an ISP) to a user's machine. |
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e-commerce |
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e-commerce (electronic commerce) is the process of buying, selling
and transferring money through the internet. |
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File
size |
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The amount
of space that a file takes up when stored on disk. File size
is usually measured in bytes, kilobytes (K), megabytes (MB)
or gigabytes (GB). |
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File
Transfer Protocol (FTP) |
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FTP is
the most common way of transferring files from one computer
to another across the Internet. FTP is insecure and usernames
and passwords can be intercepted by third parties. |
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Firewall |
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Software and/or hardware that controls the information and requests
flowing into and out of a computer network. Firewalls are a
means of protecting networks from unauthorised access. In the
context of a small website the ISP will maintain the firewall
on the network that the web server resides. |
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Flash |
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Flash is a vector-based, multimedia technology developed by
Macromedia that can be embedded in HTML pages. Flash files can
take the form of animations, games and even whole websites. |
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FrontPage |
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Microsoft
FrontPage is a web page authoring tool developed by Microsoft.
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GNU
Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) |
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GIMP
is an open source graphics creation and manipulation application. |
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Graphic
Interchange Format (GIF) |
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A popular low colour depth image file format. The GIF file format
is most appropriate for diagrams, illustrations and cartoons. |
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HyperText
Markup Language (HTML) |
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The language of the Internet. Web pages are written in HTML.
The language consists of simple tags used to define sections
of a document. HyperText also allows documents to be connected
via URL links.
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HyperText
Transfer Protocol (HTTP) |
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The Internet
is made up of computers communicating with each other through
standard protocols. HyperText is one such protocol and is the
one used to transfer web pages. |
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Internet |
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The Internet
is worldwide collection of computers all connected together
to form a huge network. These computers communicate with each
other through a set of common software standards known as protocols.
These protocols allow the sending and receiving of emails; viewing
of web pages; the transfer of files between one computer and
another. |
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Internet
Protocol Address (IP Address) |
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Each machine connected to the Internet has an address known
as an Internet Protocol address (IP address). The IP address
takes the form of four numbers separated by dots, for example:
123.45.67.89 |
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Internet
Service Provider (ISP) |
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An ISP is an organisation that provides users with connectivity
to the Internet. Usually users pay a fee for the use of an ISP. |
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Interoperability |
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In the
context of a website, an interoperable website is implemented
in such a way that information within that site can be retrieved
by a user irrespective of the type of user agent being used.
Interoperability can be achieved by adhering the the specifications
and guidelines established by the W3C. |
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JavaScript |
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JavaScript
is a client side scripting language used to create dynamic web
pages. JavaScript should not be confused with Java, the full
featured programming language. |
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Joint
Photographic Experts Group (JPG or JPEG) |
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A popular full colour depth image file format. The JPG file
format is most appropriate for photographs or images with continuous
tone.
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Linux |
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An open source operating system that works in a similar fashion
to Unix. |
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Mark
up |
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The process
by which documents are converted into web pages by the insertion
of HTML tags. |
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Modulator-demodulator
(Modem) |
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A device
that converts the digital signal from a computer to an analogue
signal that can be transmitted along an ordinary phone line.
This allows computers to connect to the Internet through a telephone
line. |
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Open
Source |
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An open source program has its source code distributed allowing
programmers to alter and change the original software as much
as they like. |
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PHP:
Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) |
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PHP is a server side, interpreted programming language designed
specifically for web programming. It is closely integrated with
web server technology so does not use the CGI. |
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Pixel |
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The smallest
point of light that a monitor can produce. Groups of different
coloured pixels are arranged in a mosaic like pattern to form
the image seen on the screen. |
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Plugin |
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A program
that allows a web browser to display a wider range of content
than originally intended. For example: the Flash plugin allows
web browsers to display Flash content. |
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Practical
Extraction and Reporting Language (Perl) |
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Perl is a server side, interpreted programming language commonly
used with CGI. |
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Secure
Shell (SSH) |
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SSH is a secure way of transferring information (including files)
between computers on a network. SFTP is a secure way of transferring
files which, despite the name, has little in common with FTP. |
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Server |
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A computer
located on a network that provides information that other computers
can use. For example, a server may allow access to web pages,
email, streaming video, etc. |
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Server
Side |
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A description
of programs that reside on the server and that a user can interact
with through the CGI or more directly through the web server
itself. Nothing is downloaded to the web browser so server side
technologies do not require a plugin. |
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Universal
Resource Locator and Uniform Resource Identifier (URL and URI) |
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A string of characters used to identify a resource on the Internet.
URI is the more modern/correct practice. An example URI: http://www.website-design-reviews.co.uk/index.html |
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Unix |
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An operating system that provides excellent networking and is
commonly used as the operating system foe web servers. |
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Upload |
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The process
by which files are transferred from a local computer to a remote
computer. For example, a person working an offline copy of a
website would then upload files to a server operated by their
ISP. |
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Usability |
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A measure
of how easy it is for a user to complete a task. In the context
of web pages this concerns how easy it is for a user to find
the information they require from a given website. |
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User-agent |
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The collect name for all devices that are able to request and
display web pages. User agents include web browsers, screen
readers, mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants, etc. |
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Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) |
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A set of guidelines and checklists describing how to make a
website accessible. |
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Web
designer |
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A person
who designs web pages. The website designer will produce an
HTML template, CSS files and all of the images needed to produce
the website. These files will then be passed to a web developer
or directly to the client. |
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Web
developer |
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A person
who undertakes programming tasks for a website. This can include
producing e-commerce applications or implementing a site search
tool. |
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Web
server |
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A term often used to describe a computer that hosts a website.
In actual fact the term refers to software running on that computer
allowing web pages to be requested and then sent to a user's
web browser. |
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Web
statistics |
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Statistics produced by analysing the access logs for a web server.
Web statistics may not always be reliable. |
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What
You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) |
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An acronym
(pronounced Whizzy-Wig) used to describe applications that allow
you to see how a finished document will appear while you are
editing that document.
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World
Wide Web (WWW, W3 or Web) |
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The web
is an information system that allows users to view documents
(called web pages) using a piece of software called a web browser.
These web pages are located on computers all over the world
(connected via the Internet), these computers all run software
known as a web server which waits for requests for web pages,
processes the request and sends the requested page back to the
web browser. |
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World
Wide Web Consortium (W3C) |
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The W3C develop specifications, guidelines, software and tools
that further the potential of the web.
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eXtensible
HyperText Markup Language (XHTML) |
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XHTML
is a reformulation of HTML 4. Web pages should be authored declaring
either an HTML or an XHTML doctype. |
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